Switchgear cabinet or rack with a fluid distribution device

ABSTRACT

A switchgear cabinet or a rack with a base, arranged below a usable space, and a fluid distribution device including a coolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device. In order to achieve simple connection options for other coolant lines, the distribution device is configured as a main distribution unit installed in the region of the base and extends with at least one pipe between two vertical delimitation planes of the base, which are located parallel to each other at a distance, and the pipe has at least one branch part for the connection of the cooling device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or rack having a basesituated under the usable space and having a distribution device with acoolant line for a cooling medium that flows through a cooling device.

2. Discussion of Related Art

A switchgear cabinet with a distribution device for supplying a fluidcooling medium to a cooling device, such as in the form of a coolingplate, is described in the catalog “RITTAL-Neuheiten 2005” [RITTAL News2005], April 2005, on page 59, which also discloses a coolant inlet andoutlet and the connection to a recooling plant for a closed coolingcircuit. The distribution of the cooling medium, namely water, withcorresponding line routing and connecting elements is carried out on aproject-by-project basis, with a corresponding amount of installationeffort.

Another switchgear cabinet with a similar distribution device for acooling device is also described in the brochure “RITTAL DCP—DirectCooling Package” of April 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide a switchgear cabinet or rackof the type mentioned above but which achieves a simplified installationof the distribution device for a cooling medium.

This object is attained with a distribution device havingcharacteristics described in this specification and in the claims. Thedistribution device disclosed is embodied as a main distribution unitinstalled in the region of or near the base and extends with at leastone conduit between two vertical delimitation planes of the base thatare parallel to and spaced apart from each other and the conduit has atleast one branching piece for connection of the cooling device.

The main distribution unit offers simple connection possibilities forlines that convey the cooling medium to the respective cooling devicewith a convenient, space-saving installation.

In one embodiment of this invention, an installation and accessibilitystandpoint comprises at least one conduit that extends between two sidefaceplates of the base and is connected to the base via at least oneside faceplate and/or at least one corner piece.

A simple, stable assembly is advantageously achieved if a maindistribution unit has at least one fastening device for attaching the atleast one conduit to the base.

A simple installation and a reliable function is advantageously achievedif at least one end section and/or the branching piece of the respectiveconduit each has a releasable closure element for closing the conduit ina fluid-tight fashion.

Other advantageous measures that contribute to a simple installation andreliable function include the main distribution unit embodied as anadd-on distribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling, whichhas an insertion element, to one end of each respective conduit. Thismakes it possible for additional switchgear cabinets or racks, forexample, preferably with corresponding main distribution units, to beeasily added onto the switchgear cabinet or rack, yielding a simpleconnection for conducting the cooling fluid.

A convenient accommodation is possible if the base is covered at its topby a base cover plate that has at least one sealed feed-through elementfor feeding through a connecting line between the respective branchingpiece and the cooling device.

A simple, stable attachment of the two, for example, but possibly alsomore, conduits is achieved if the fastening device has two clampingshells that can be clamped against each other, each of which isintegrally joined to respective holding receptacles for all of theconduits.

A simple connection, for example, a side-by-side addition of anotherswitchgear cabinet or rack, is achieved if the side faceplates havefeed-throughs for the conduits.

In one advantageous arrangement and installation, the side faceplatesare a lower partial faceplate and an upper partial faceplate.

In other assembly possibilities, the side faceplates are bent inward atright angles, at least at their upper longitudinal edge, in relation tothe base chamber and have fastening holes in the bent section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is explained in view of preferred exemplary embodimentsand with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installation of a main distributionunit in the base region of a switchgear cabinet equipped with connectioncomponents and an add-on base;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main distribution unit according toFIG. 1, before installation in the base;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corner piece of a base and a fasteningpiece of the main distribution unit to be attached to it;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a main distribution unit;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a main distribution unit formed as an add-onunit;

FIG. 6 shows various views of a fastening piece of the main distributionunit;

FIG. 7 is a top view of two main distribution units coupled to eachother, with a side-by-side connection of two switchgear cabinets; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main distribution unit installed in a base,with connecting lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a base 1 of a switchgear cabinet in which a maindistribution unit 10 for a fluid cooling medium, such as water, isinstalled. Via connecting lines 12 that are fed through a base coverplate 6 by sealed feed-through elements 7, the main distribution unit 10is connected to conduits 8 to which a cooling device, for example in theform of a cooling plate having a serpentine cooling line, can beconnected at its inlet and outlet sides. It is also possible to connectother cooling devices through which a fluid cooling medium flows.

The base 1 is enclosed at its front and back by a front faceplate 4 andrear faceplate 5, is enclosed laterally by side faceplates 3, and iscovered at the top by the base cover plate 6 so that the base faceplates3, 4, 5, together with the base cover plate 6, enclose a block-shapedbase chamber that is separate from a usable space situated or positionedon the interior of the switchgear cabinet, above the base cover plate 6.

The base faceplates are preferably composed of sheet metal wall elementsthat are bent at right angles, at least at their upper longitudinaledge. The bent edge sections are oriented toward the interior of thebase chamber. In a corresponding manner, the narrow sides and/or thelower longitudinal edge of the side faceplates 3 as well as the frontfaceplate 4 and rear faceplate 5 can also be bent inward at rightangles. The bent edges have holes for fastening or mounting purposes,which can be arranged, for example, in rows of holes with a particularspacing pattern, thus providing simple assembly possibilities. In thecorner regions of the base 1, corner pieces 2 are provided, which attachthe side faceplates 3 to the front faceplate 4 and rear faceplate 5. Thefront surfaces and rear surfaces of the corner pieces 2 are stepped inparallel fashion or transition flush into the plane of the frontfaceplate 4 or rear faceplate 5, respectively, and side parts of thecorner pieces 2, which are at right angles to the front surface and rearsurface, are stepped in parallel fashion or transition flush into theplane of the side faceplates 3. As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and3, the corner pieces 2 have mounting surfaces parallel to and spacedapart from their front surface and rear surface, with mounting openings2.1, 2.2. in the form of vertically extending rows of holes. Inaddition, the corner pieces 2 are provided with connecting tabs forconnecting them to the front faceplate 4 or rear faceplate 5. As shownin FIG. 8, the side faceplates 3 can be composed of an upper partialfaceplate 3′ and a lower partial faceplate 3″.

As also shown in FIG. 1, the main distribution unit 10 has two conduits11 arranged one above the other and spaced apart from each other in thevertical direction, extending horizontally between the side faceplates3. These conduits 11 are attached by lateral fastening devices 18, suchas to two corner pieces 2 or to the side faceplates 3. FIGS. 2 and 3show an example in which the lateral fastening devices 18 are eachattached to a respective corner piece 2 at the mounting openings 2.1situated closer to the interior of the base. Each respective fasteningdevice 18, which has a block-shaped outer form, for example, is composedof two holding elements 18.1, 18.1′ that can be clamped to each other,which have respective integrally joined partial holding receptacles thatare complementary to each other in order to form a holding receptacle18.2 and the holding receptacles are matched to the outer circumferenceof the conduits 11 and accommodate the conduits 11. The number ofholding receptacles 18.2′ corresponds to the number of conduits 11 ofthe main distribution unit 10, thus assuring a straightforward, simpleassembly. The fastening device 18 has preferably threaded fasteningbores 18.3 that are matched to the spacing and position of suitablemounting openings 2.1 of the corner piece 2 to allow it to be fastenedto the corner piece 2.

As shown in FIGS. 4 through 8, the fastening devices can also beprovided with additional fastening openings 18.4 and 18.5 that arematched to holes in the bent edges of the side faceplates 3 or theirpartial faceplates 3′, 3″ in order to attach them there, either bythemselves or in addition to another part. This offers expanded assemblypossibilities.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the region of the openings of the conduits 11 ofthe main distribution unit 10, the side faceplates 3 have throughopenings 3.1 via which the conduits 11 can be connected to other lines,in particular the conduits 11 of an adjacent cabinet or rack. In aside-by-side arrangement of two or more cabinets, the side faceplates 3of the adjacent sides of the base 1 can also be omitted. FIGS. 4 and 5show two differently embodied main distribution units 10. FIG. 4 shows amain distribution unit for one cabinet or rack while FIG. 5 shows a maindistribution unit 10 embodied for a side-by-side arrangement of two ormore cabinets.

The main distribution unit 10 shown in FIG. 4 has two conduits 11 withconnection pieces 11.1 in their end sections. One end of each conduit 11is connected via the respective connection piece 11.1 to a branchingpiece 13. The connection piece 11.1 has an external thread and thebranching piece 13 has a matching internal thread. Toward thecorresponding side of the base 1, the branching piece 13 is connected toa coupling piece 15 that is connected by an external thread to aninternal thread on the side of the branching piece 13 oriented towardit. A connecting line can be connected by another external thread of thecoupling piece 15. At the end of the conduit 11 oriented away from thebranching piece 13, its connection piece 11.1 is connected to anothercoupling piece 14, which is adjoined by a coupling piece 16 forconnecting to a connecting line. In the other conduit 11, theabove-mentioned branching piece 13, the coupling piece 15, theadditional coupling piece 14, and the coupling piece 16 are connected ina laterally inverse sequence, as shown in FIG. 4.

By contrast with the main distribution unit 10 shown in FIG. 4, in themain distribution unit 10 embodied for a side-by-side arrangement shownin FIG. 5, on one side, in this case the right side, the two couplingpieces 14, 15 are each connected via a respective intermediate piece 19,such as in the form of a double nipple with internal thread, to arespective quick-release coupling 17 and the quick-release couplings 17can be easily connected in a sealed fashion by simply coupling them tothe coupling pieces 16 of an adjacent main distribution unit 10 in orderto produce the flow connection in an adjacent cabinet or rack in aside-by-side arrangement, as shown in FIG. 7. The coupling pieces 16 areembodied in the form of quick-release couplings with muffs embodied foraccommodating a main distribution unit 10 for the side-by-sidearrangement, and can be simply substituted with screw sealing plugs whenthe main distribution unit 10 is used by itself.

As the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 demonstrate, themain distribution units 10 can be easily converted back and forth, froma single-cabinet or single-rack arrangement to a side-by-sidearrangement, by simply attaching or removing the intermediate pieces 19and quick-release couplings 17. The conduits 11 are composed, forexample, of simple rubber pressure hoses, with threads provided at theirtwo respective ends. The length of the rubber pressure hoses variesdepending on the width of the cabinet or rack.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, the T-shaped branching pieces 13, withtheir branching connection that likewise has an internal thread, serveto connect the connecting lines 12 routed through the base cover plate6. The other ends of the connecting lines 12 are connected to connectingconduits 8 extending in the frame profile of the cabinet or rack or areconnected directly to the inlet, or outlet line end of a cooling coil.The cooling medium can thus be easily supplied to a cooling plate of thetype mentioned above, for example, and conveyed back from it again afterabsorption of the dissipated heat. The main distribution unit 10 offersa uniform device that can be preinstalled in all cabinets or racks,enabling simple connection possibilities to a recooling plant and alsoto the cooling device provided in the respective switchgear cabinet.

1. A switchgear cabinet or rack, having a base (1) situated under ausable space and having a distribution device with a coolant line for acooling medium that flows through a cooling device, the switchgearcabinet or rack comprising: the distribution device being a maindistribution unit (10) installed near the base (1) and extending with atleast one conduit (11) between two vertical delimitation planes of thebase (1) that are parallel to and spaced apart from each other and theconduit (11) having at least one branching piece (13) for connection ofthe cooling device.
 2. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited inclaim 1, wherein the at least one conduit (11) extends between two sidefaceplates (3) of the base (1) and is connected to the base (1) by atleast one side faceplate (3) and/or at least one corner piece (2). 3.The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 2, wherein the maindistribution unit (10) has at least one fastening device (18) forattaching the at least one conduit (11) to the base (1).
 4. Theswitchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 3, wherein at least oneend section and/or the branching piece (13) of the respective conduit(11) each has a releasable closure element for closing the conduit (11)in a fluid-tight fashion.
 5. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recitedin claim 4, wherein the main distribution unit (10) is formed as anadd-on distribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling (17)having an insertion element, to one end of each respective conduit (11).6. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 5, wherein thebase (11) is covered at a top by a base cover plate (6) having at leastone sealed feed-through element (7) for feeding through a connectingline between the respective branching piece (13) and the cooling device.7. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 6, wherein thefastening device (18) has two clamping shells (18.1, 18.1′) that can beclamped against each other, each of which is integrally joined torespective holding receptacles (18.2) for all of the conduits (11). 8.The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 7, wherein the sidefaceplates (3) have through openings (3.1) for the conduits (11).
 9. Theswitchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 8, wherein the sidefaceplates (3) are of a lower partial faceplate (3″) and an upperpartial faceplate (3′)
 10. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited inclaim 9, wherein the side faceplates (3) are bent inward at rightangles, at least at an upper longitudinal edge, in relation to the basechamber and have fastening holes in the bent section.
 11. The switchgearcabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the main distributionunit (10) has at least one fastening device (18) for attaching the atleast one conduit (11) to the base (1).
 12. The switchgear cabinet orrack as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one end section and/or thebranching piece (13) of the respective conduit (11) each has areleasable closure element for closing the conduit (11) in a fluid-tightfashion.
 13. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1,wherein the main distribution unit (10) is formed as an add-ondistribution unit by attaching a quick-release coupling (17) having aninsertion element, to one end of each respective conduit (11).
 14. Theswitchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the base (11)is covered at a top by a base cover plate (6) having at least one sealedfeed-through element (7) for feeding through a connecting line betweenthe respective branching piece (13) and the cooling device.
 15. Theswitchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 3, wherein the fasteningdevice (18) has two clamping shells (18.1, 18.1′) that can be clampedagainst each other, each of which is integrally joined to respectiveholding receptacles (18.2) for all of the conduits (11).
 16. Theswitchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the sidefaceplates (3) have through openings (3.1) for the conduits (11). 17.The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited in claim 1, wherein the sidefaceplates (3) are of a lower partial faceplate (3″) and an upperpartial faceplate (3′)
 18. The switchgear cabinet or rack as recited inclaim 2, wherein the side faceplates (3) are bent inward at rightangles, at least at an upper longitudinal edge, in relation to the basechamber and have fastening holes in the bent section.